Saturating apparatus and method of saturating



Jan. 19, 1932. c PATER 1,842,111

SATURATING APPARATUS AND METHOD SATURATING Filed June 29, 1926 3 shets-sheet 1 Jan. 19, 1932.

c. J. PATE R SATURATING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SATURATING Filed June29, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 II I Jan. 19, 1932. c. J. PATER SATURATINGAPPARATUS AND METHOD OF SATURATING Filed June 29. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Jan. 19, 1932 OFFICE CARL J. EATER, 0F WYOMING,

ING- CQMJPANY. A CO SATUBA'JFING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF S ATURATINGsubstitute of application Serial No. 514,483, filed. November 12,

1921. Zlhis application filed June 29,

1926. Serial no. 119,464.

This application is filed as a continuation of my application Serial No.514,483 filed November 12, 1921, for saturating apparatus and method ofsaturating.

My invention relates tothe method of, and apparatus for, saturatingfelts, paper, canvas, burlap and similar products with bituminous orother saturating materials, such as asphalt, coal tar or any suitablematerial. It is especially adapted for use in saturating felt, paper forroofing purposes, sheathing purposes, floor covering purposes, etc. Insaturating of felt, for instance for roofing purposes, floor coveringpurposes, etc., it is desirable that the saturating of the felt be notonly thorough and uniform for practical purposes but that the saturatingoperationbe'performed rapidly; I have found that a substantially thorough and uniform saturation can be performed very rapidly by carryingthe material on a movable support while subjecting it to a difference inpressure on opposite sides as for instance by creating a vacuum orpartial vacuum on one side while on the opposite side the saturatingmaterial is supplied. Such method results in thoroughly and rapidlydrawing the saturating material into and through the felt whereby auniform saturation is obtained. I have found that by supporting thefelt, or other materials, to be saturated upon a support such forinstance as a wire mesh and then passin the support throu h, or incontact with, t e saturating material while subjecting the material to adifference in pressure on opposite sides that the saturating material incontact with the face of the material is passed through the materialthereby saturatingit- This method may be performed with considerablerapidity and large quantities of the material saturated thoroughly anduniformly in a very short eriod of time. It also permits of regulationof the saturation as to the quantity of saturant left in the material.It ermits of using a liquid or semi-1i uid as t e viscosity of thesaturant used is ependent upon porosity of the material being treated.This method also permits of treating materials so as tomerely coat thefibers or strands of the material if desired, such for instance, as thecoating of the warp and weft strands of burlap with a coating ofwaterproofing or other material without saturating the same. In carryingout my method of saturation, I provide a rotating drum adapted to berotated in a tank containing saturating material. I preferably use adrum provided with a series of compartments and at the inner end of eachcompartment .'s a passage which is brought intermittently into registerwith one of a series of passages located in a head communicating with apump adapted to create a vacuum in said head. The periphery of the drumis provided with a wire mesh support which acts as a support for thematerial to be saturated. The material to be saturated is fed to theperiphery of the drum by passing it around a small rotating shaft orroll on to the wire mesh support forming the drum periphery. When thedrum has rotated a considerable distance, preferably more than 180, thesaturated material passes around another roller and away from the drum.As the material being saturated is in place on the rotating drum it ispassed down into a tank containing the saturating material where, thecompartments registering with the openings in the-periphery of theshaft, the pump pulls a vacuum which draws the saturantthrough thematerial completely saturating it. The saturating material which passesthrough the material being saturated then passes out through the suctionpump and back into the storage supply or into the saturating tank.Preferably means are provided for keeping the saturating material in thetank in which the saturating drum rotates at a given temperature.

I have also found that by preheating the material before it is subjectedto the saturation treatment, the process is greatly facilitated and amore uniform saturation obtained. This preheating I perform by eithersubjecting the material to passage over or between heated rolls or coilsor by passing it through the heated saturant. This preheating results insubstantially removing the air and moisture from the material whichfacilitates the saturation.

I also provide means for maintaining the saturant in the tank, in whichthe saturating drum rotates, at a substantially fixed level whereby therotation of the drum being at a constant speed the material is subjectedto the saturation under same conditions continuously throughout itslength.

In the drawings accompanying this application I have shown one form ofapparatus for carrying out my saturating method and will proceed todescribe it as utilized by me in the manufacture ofsaturated felts forroofing, floor covering and similar purposes. Of course, the method andapparatus may be used for saturating anymaterials for the purpose ofwaterproofing them or may be used in the dyeing of materials or for anypurpose where it is desirable to impregnate or saturate a felted orwoven or other material.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus,Figure 2 is a view taken on line AA of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a sectionof the saturating drum, Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the shaftof the drum, Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a detail of the valve.

In the drawings in which like numerals represent like parts, 1 is a tankor a receptacle into which is fed the saturating material through thepipe 21 which leads from the saturant mixer or heater or reservoir 25.Pipe 26 is a return pipe from the saturant tank 1 to the saturant heateror mixer or reservoir in which is located a pump 26a. Between the pump26a and the tank 25Vmay be located a heater or mixer for the saturant. Acirculation of the saturant from the heater or mixer through the pipe 21to the tank 1, and back to the heater or mixer or reservoir b the returnpipe 26 is thus maintained. 2; is a pipe which is arranged so that itwill maintain a maximum level of the saturant in the tank 1. If desireda float valve may be located in the pipe 21 to be'opened or closed bythe level of the saturant. The circulation of the saturating materialmay be by means of a pump, or by gravity or otherwise as desired. I haveshown a pump 26a in the return line 26 for this purpose.

'Rollers 2, 2, 2 are arranged at the top of the tank and near the bottomto partially saturate the felt by passing it down into the saturantbefore it is submitted to the difference in pressure on its oppositefaces. To

reheat the felt, driving off all moisture and acilitate the saturation Ihave provided steam heated drums 28, which the felt passes over beforeit reaches the tank 1. 29-29 are pull rolls operated by suitably appliedpower to feed the felt into the tank. One of these rolls 29 is mountedin bearings 30 so as to regulate by screw 31 the pressure on the felt byrotation of the wheel 31a. 3 is a roller for guiding the felt to therotating saturating drum 4. 5 is an idler roll which acts to guide thefelt away from the saturating roll 4. Upon rollers 2, 2, 2; 3 and 5 arearranged movable collars 32 adapted to be adjusted to the width of thefelt being treated. These collars have their adjacent faces beveled tofacilitate the felt being held in alignment. The rollers 3 and 5 alsoserve to hold the felt in position on the periphery of the saturatingdrum 4. To assist in keeping the felt in alignment for proper feeding tothe drum 4, I arrange a guide way 59 which is as shown in the form of anopen end pan having upwardly extending sides 60 which at the lower endare wider than the felt and gradually approach nearer until they areabout as far apart as the width of the felt being treated. The sides 60are preferably arranged so that they may be adjusted as to the distanceapart to permit treatment of different widths of felt in the same waythat the collars 32 are adjusted for this purpose. 6-6 are compressionrolls mounted in moving bearings 16 so as to compress the saturated feltbetween the compression rolls 66. The pressure of the compression roll 6may be increased or diminished by rotationofthe screw 17 rotatably heldin the bearing 16 so that rotation of the screw 17 will move the bearing16 to increase or decrease the compression between the rolls 66. Therollers 3, 5 and 6 are mounted in bearings supported on the angle irons33 fixed to the top of the sides of the tank 1. Rollers 2-2 of whichthere are shown three are mounted on supports, two on bottom and one onthe sides of the tank 1. The saturating drum 4 is fixedly mounted upon arotating shaft 9 on supports 34 in bearings 35 so as to rotate therein.Fixedly mounted on shaft 9 is a gear 56 which en ages with another geardriven by any suitable power to rotate shaft 9. Preferably the drum 4 isprovided with a series of compartments 11 in the periphery thereof opento the atmosphere except for a cover of wire mesh cloth or othersuitable material through which saturant can pass. These compartmentsare held on radial arms 57 fixed on shaft 9. In the compartments 11, Iprovide supports 13 for the mesh cover 14. These supports are arrangedso as to permit of free communication between all portions of thecompartments 11 and for that purpose may have in them the passages 11aas shown in Figure 3. Upon these supports 13, I place a felt support 14,preferably of mesh like material which may be wire mesh or othersuitable material adapted to support the felt while permitting thesuction created by the vacuum vacuum hereinafter referred to, to freelydraw the saturant through the felt. In practical operation it will befound that the felt may vary slightly in width and thereby exposeopenings in the periphery of the drum 4, I provide flaps or endlessbelts 61 arranged or partial so as to-project under the edges of thefelt and cover the spaces in the mesh support 14 not covered bythe felt.For these flaps 61, 1 preferably use a porous material which may befelt, canvas or any other material, through which the saturant may bedrawn, whereby the felt being treated will be saturated in the portionsthat overlap the flap. As shown the drum may be provided with outwardlyflaring rims 62 on each side to assist, in locating the felt in theproper position on the perlphery of the drum. Leading from each of thecompartments 11 are pipes 12 which: extend into the hollow shaft 9,through the shaft and out to openings in the periphery as shown inFigure 4. Surrounding the shaft and enclosing the ends of the pipes 12is a sleeve 36 having a compartment 10 which extends three quarters ofthe distance around the shaft. This compartment as shown normallyconnects with six of the compartments 11 through the pipes 12. Ofcourse, the compartment could be arranged so as to normally connect withmore or less of the pipes if desired. To permit of closing one or moreof the passages from the pipes 12, ll provide a slide valve 37 which hasopenings 38 adapted to be brought into alignment with the opening in theperiphery of the shaft 9 and an opening 39 in part1tion wall 40 as shownin Figure 5. This slide valve 37 is operated by rotation of the gear 41which meshes with the gear rack 42 on the valve 37. The gear 41 isrotated, see Figures 2 and 4, by rotating the wheel 43 fixedly mountedon shaft 44 which carries bevel gear 45 meshing with bevel gear 46 onshaft 47 to which gear 41 is fixed. As shown in Fig. 5 the valve 37 isclosing two of the openings in the periphery of the shaft 9 so that only4 of the openings would be communicating with the compartment 10 in thisarrange.- ment. If it is desired to open others the valve 37 is operatedbywheel 43 and the opening 38 is brought into alignment with the passage48 in shaft 9 and the passage 39 in wall 40, whereby an additionalopening is brought into communication with the compartment 10. Continuedoperation of the valve would without closing the opening just referredto, by reason of the size of the opening 38 in the valve 37 cause thevalve to pass over the opening 49 so as to bring that into communicationwith compartment 10. This compartment 10 is fixedly held againstrotation and has a pipe 50 leading from it to the suction side of a pump51. From the discharge side of the pump 51 is a pipe 52 leading to thereservoir or tank 25. In the pipe 50 is located a valve 54 and a similarvalve 53 is located in the pipe 52. When the pump 51 is operated itdraws the saturant from the tank through the felt on the mesh cover 14into the compartments 11 through the pipes 12 into the compartment 10through the pipe 50 into the pump 51 and discharges it through the pipe52 into the tank 25.

, The saturant may be prepared and fed into the tank 25 through pipe 55by gravity or by pump, from there it passes to the tank by gravity or bybeing pumped through the pipe 21. Suitable means should be provided formaintaining the temperature of the saturant in its passage and in thetanks. such as heat insulation on the pipes, etc., and if desired meanssuchas steam coils, etc. could be used.

If desired the series of rollers 2, 2, 2; 3 and 5 and roll 6 arepreferably rotated by the application of suitable power at a speed inunison with the rotation of drum 4.

The operation of the apparatus shown is as follows: The tank having beenfilled with saturant to its maximum as controlled by the pipe/27 so asto preferably submerge all but a portion of the drum equal to an arclarge enough to take in about three compartments 11 as shown in Figures1 and 2. A roll of felt 58 is placed and fed around the apparatus asshown by the dotted line. The felt is preheated by passage over therolls 28 and is fed into the tank 1 by the pull rolls 2929. From thereis passed around the rollers 2, 2, 2 and over the roller 3 to the drum4. As the saturating drum 4 rotates, after the felt has been guided toit by passage over the guide roller 3, it carries the felt down into andpasses it through the saturating material in the tank 1. This saturationoperation is performed by the suction created by the pump 51 whichcreates a vacuum or partial vacuum in the compartments 11 covered by thefelt. The felt is held in position on the mesh support 14 so as topermit the suction to pull the saturant through the felt. The mesh ofthe support 14 must be such as will permit this operation while at thesame time small enough to hold the felt against being damaged. As thedrum rotates the pipes or passages 12 leading from the compartments 11are brought into register with the compartment 10 in the sleeve 36 andthe pump 51 being in operationa vacuum or partial vacuum is pulled bythe pump through the pipe line 50, compartment 10,

pipes 12 leading to the compartments 11 so thatthis vacuum or partialvacuum draws or pulls the saturant through the felt thoroughly anduniformly saturating it. As shown in the drawings the arrangement issuch that suction is only created for saturating the felt when the feltis below the level of the saturating material. To accomplish the removalof the surplus saturant the felt is passed between the compression rolls6-6 where the surplus saturant is removed. If desired another roll inall respects like saturating roll 4 could be provided arranged after thesaturating roll 4 shown in the drawing but not rotating in a saturant todraw out the surplus saturant and also to dry the material by thepassing through it of heated or cold air.

Claims:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank, a drum rotatingtherein, compartments arranged in said drum, means for intermittentlyreducing and equalizing the pressure in said compartments as said drumrotates, said drum provided with a surface for supporting flat sheetmaterials.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank, a rotating drumtherein, compartments arranged in the periphery of said drums, means forpulling a vacuum in said compartment, means for passing the material tobe treated through a saturant arranged ahead of the drum.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank, a drum rotatingtherein, compartments arranged in said drum, means for intermittentlyreducing and equalizing the pressure in said compartments as said drumrotates, and means for regulating the number of compartments in Whichthe last mentioned means are simultaneously acting, said drum providedwith a surface for supporting fiat sheet materials.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank, a drum rotatingtherein, compartments arranged in said drum means for intermittentlyreducing and equalizin the pressure in said compartments as said rumrotates, flanges flaring outwardly from each other extending beyond theoperative surface of said compartments.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a tank, a drum rotatingtherein, compartments arranged in said drum, means for mtermittentlyreducing and equalizing the pressure in said-compartments as said drumrotates, and a guide pan for guiding the material to be. treated to thedrum.

In testimony Whereofll {have signed my name to this specification.

CARL J. PATER.

